Has the abuse scandal already had wider implications? Will it shape the future of the church, or is it merely a storm that will pass soon? Perhaps it is too much to link the following bit of news to the scandal, but I did think that it was interesting that such an unprecedented move materialised only few weeks after one of the largest scandals concerning the modern catholic church.

Forty women who were secret mistresses to priests or lay monks have endorsed a letter to the Pope, asking him to abolish the celibacy rule. The reason: A priest “needs to live with his fellow human beings, experience feelings, love and be loved”.

“My family walked away from the Roman Catholic church almost 70 years ago – over the question of freedom to access means of birth control. I think it unlikely that the church is ready to engage intelligent dialogue on an even more demanding subject.

Living in the 21st Century, peering backwards at an ideology, superstition, rooted to the Dark Ages like a tumor clinging to an organ it has already sucked dry of life – I hardly see any reason for this attempt at dialogue except to illustrate the unwillingness of Papal princes to learn and grow into the real world.”

Cristina Odone provides a different focus on her blog about religion at the Telegraph:

Celibacy is a wonderful vocation. It allows priests to concentrate on their mission; and to sublimate their erotic love into something pure and chaste and inspiring. But either you have a vocation or you don’t. Once it’s imposed on you, it’s no longer a holy gift but conscription into an army you don’t want to join.

What are your thoughts? Are you surprised, shocked, intrigued, disgusted? Or perhaps just very bored? Let us know in the comments – we have new and improved comments which accept individual replies.